Lyon humbled to surpass McGrath — Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon reached another glorious milestone in his illustrious career after overtaking iconic pacer Glenn McGrath to move to sixth place on the all-time Test wicket-takers list. The 38-year-old achieved this feat by dismissing England’s Ben Duckett on day two of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, claiming his 564th Test wicket in what became a defining moment of the match.
The veteran spinner, known for his classical flight and precision, also took the wicket of Ollie Pope in a superb opening over that showed his enduring quality and composure. “I grew up idolising Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath — they were my heroes,” Lyon said after the day’s play. “To think that I’ve now overtaken Glenn… it’s pretty humbling, to be honest. It’s something I’ll reflect on at the end of my career, or maybe even tonight.”
A humble milestone
Lyon spoke of his gratitude for his teammates and the support system that helped sustain his nearly 14-year international journey. “I couldn’t have done it without the guys around me,” he said. “It’s an amazing feeling, and I’m just grateful to still contribute to this team.”
The moment carried extra sentiment, given McGrath’s own lighthearted reaction to being surpassed. Known affectionately as “Garry” — a nod to Australian footballer Garry Lyon — Nathan’s achievement represents consistency, skill, and longevity unmatched among modern off-spinners.
The road ahead
After surpassing McGrath’s 563 wickets, Lyon now sets his sights on catching Stuart Broad (604) and Anil Kumble (619) on the all-time list. At the top remain Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (708), and James Anderson (704) — all legends of the game.
Despite being left out of the day-night second Ashes Test in Brisbane earlier this year, which he described as “absolutely filthy,” Lyon has bounced back stronger than ever. His form and resilience continue to energize Australia’s bowling attack across formats — even though he’s not featured in limited-overs internationals since 2019.
Debuting in 2011, Lyon has since played 141 Tests and produced memorable performances, with best bowling figures of 8/50. His consistency and team-first spirit have made him a cornerstone of Australian cricket and a role model for emerging spinners worldwide.
“I still get nervous before every spell,” he admitted. “That’s just who I am. But I know my role in this amazing group, and I’ll continue to enjoy the journey for as long as I can.”
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